The Biggest Toy Storage Secret
It might seem simple, but the best way to minimize kids’ toys around your home is to limit what you buy and what kids receive. If you’re dealing with toy overload, these techniques might help:
- Donate, donate, donate. Before birthdays and holidays, go through old toys with your kids. Let them help you decide which toys they’ve outgrown or no longer play with, then explain that the toys they give away will go to other kids. Knowing they’re helping other kids in need takes the sting out of getting rid of their extras.
- Discourage friends and relatives from buying large presents your home can’t accommodate or make a blanket no-present request before a party. Add a line to invitations explaining that the real gift is their presence at the party.
- Encourage experiences with your child in place of a gift. Grandparents taking a child to the zoo and then for ice cream is more memorable than a trinket or toy.
How to Easily Organize Toys
Elaborate storage is not only overkill for a child, but also makes it hard for kids to put toys away themselves. Once you’ve gone through and streamlined the toys, choose shelves or bins your child can reach. Then work with your child to figure out where things should go. Group like with like and choose a storage option that makes it easy for your child to know what goes inside. If he needs help, label the boxes or bins to remind them what goes there. If your child can’t read yet, put an image on the bin to help them see what belongs.
Using Vertical Space for Toy Storage
Safety first! Always make sure shelving that can topple is securely fastened to the wall. Keep your kids’ favorite toys on low shelves so they can easily access them. Keeping items at their height empowers them to play and get dressed without help from a grown-up. Shelves are especially helpful if you rotate your kid’s toys. Put seasonal items or keepsakes on higher shelves. For books, thin rail shelves let you face their covers out, making it easier for children to identify books. Seeing the colorful covers encourages kids to read more. If you’re worried about clutter, put pretty baskets or bins on shelves to hide small toys.
Other Kids’ Bedroom Ideas
Beyond winning the toy storage war, there are a few other ways to help create a kids' bedroom that stores their stuff and makes it a place they'll want to spend time. Here's how:
Involve Your Kids
The easiest way to get your child invested in their room is to ask their opinion on the décor. Showing endless choices might overwhelm them, so narrow major considerations like paint, rugs, furniture and lighting down to two or three options that you like and can afford. From there let your child help choose.
Invest in Kid’s Bedroom Furniture
Instead of buying large, kid-specific items like a dinosaur-themed bed or a dresser with a licensed character on it, stop yourself. Kids grow quickly and their interests change even faster. Buy furniture in a classic color and style that will grow with them.
If you want to incorporate their interests in the room, do it with lower-cost items that are easy to swap in and out like wall art, bed sheets and other small decorative accessories. You can change them when your child outgrows them. Also, your child’s interest doesn’t need to be displayed literally. If your child loves football, frame some of their favorite players’ jerseys instead of hanging football-print wallpaper.
Set Up a Dedicated Desk Area for Homework
If your child is at an age where she has homework, create a comfortable place for her to work. Keep the necessary school supplies like scissors, paper and pens close by so they won’t have to stop and find the things they need. Drawer dividers within the desk keep drawers clean and organized. Buy adjustable furniture like chairs and desks so they can work comfortably, and it can grow with them. Make their desk a place they want to be by hanging artwork and mementos on a corkboard. It makes it easier to swap in new things.
Utilize an Accent Wall
Accent walls are a smart way to add color or pattern to a kid’s room. Paint the entire room a neutral hue that will grow with your child. Then choose one wall to add a paint color of their choosing, removable wallpaper or a fun wall decal. If/when they outgrow it, it’s much easier to repaint one wall than an entire room.
Add a Plant in a Kid’s Room
Plants are inexpensive décor and it’s fun for your child to watch them grow. Add a few easy-to-grow houseplants to your child’s room if they’re at an age where it’s appropriate (or you know that if left unattended they know better than to eat them). It’s always a good idea to check that all the plants in your home are kid and pet safe.